Media day notebook

Flint Generals fans attending Friday's regular-season opener against the Port Huron Icehawks will see some new additions outside the east entrance of Perani Arena.

Workers from a local nursery were outside planting shrubs, trees and plants around the entrance. The timing seems a little strange given the fact that winter will be here soon, but at least they're trying to spruce up the place a bit. Could it be to make the building more attractive to potential buyers?

• Everyone in attendance Friday will receive a free pair of Thundersticks. Everyone at Saturday's game vs. Bloomington will receive a free magnet schedule.

• Tuesday was media day. After practice, the players were made available for interviews with the three TV stations. (I couldn't stay long since practice started and ended late and I had to get home for a conference call with Pickard. I'll have more on that later today.) But Jason Cirone used the media festivities to have some fun at the expense of teammate John DiPace. As DiPace was being interviewed by Channel 5, Cirone darted into the locker room, returned with a towel covered in shaving cream and gave DiPace a facewash for the camera. I'd be surprised if it's not on the news tonight.

• Saturday's will be UAW nights this season. Anyone showing UAW identification will receive a discount on tickets.

• Just for kicks, I counted the number of burned out lights in the arena. The unofficial total was 70. No wonder it's so dark in some spots on the ice. That's something the Generals new ownership group is going to adress with Perani Arena.